Cup or container



Jan. 11, 1944. BUTTERY 2,338,900

CUP 0R CONTAINER Filad June 1 3, 1942 Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE to Sutherland Mich.

Paper Company, Kalamazoo,

Application June 13, 1942, Serial No. 446,895

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cups or containers.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a handled cup or container which is well adapted as asputum cup for use in hospitals and the like which is provided with acover and at the same time very convenient to use.

Second, to provide a cup or container having these advantages which maybe very economically produced.

Third, to provide a structure of this character which may be made ofcomparatively light stock and at the same time when assembled is rigidand not likely to collapse, even when considerable pressure isinadvertently exerted thereon.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating how the cup may be grasped andthe cover opened.

Fig. 2 is a top view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustra-ting certain of thestructural details and the steps of setting up the carton.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation with one of the handle members in erectedposition and the other in collapsed position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the cup or containerillustrated is formed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the cover with the hinge member in collapsedposition.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form or embodiment of the inventionin which the handle is omitted.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a bottom I, frontwall 2, rear wall 3, and opposed side walls 4, 4. These walls arehingedly connected to the bottom by the score lines 5. The foldablecorner members 6 are hingedly connected to the walls by the score lines1 and have diagonal scores 8 permitting the diagonal folding thereof. 7V

The side walls 4 are provided with pocket flap extensions 9, preferablynotched at I 0 on their front outer corners. The front wall 2 isprovided with a pocket flap H having notched edges l2 providing tonguesI3. The notched edges are shaped so as to receive the pocket flaps 9when they are folded inwardly to an angular relation to the walls towhich they are attached as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in whichposition the tongues 13 engage in the notches II]. This effectivelyholds these pocket flaps in inwardly inclined position when they areerected. In erecting, the corner flaps joining the front wall 2 and theside walls 4 are folded inwardly, that is, on the inside of the frontwall. The corner members joining the rear wall with the side walls arefolded outwardly around the outer side of the rear Wall.

The rear wall is provided with a handle member extension or flap I 4 onits upper edge hingedly connected thereto and foldable outwardly overthe adjacent folded corner flaps. This handle member in the embodimentillustrated has curved edges and is provided with opposed C-shaped slitsl5 and opposed slits IE to provide opposed looplike handle members I!which may be swung to erected inclined relation to each other forgrasping, in" which position they serv to mutually press each other and,when grasped, prevent any substantial swinging or pivotal movement ofthe handle. The slits l5 form tongues I 8 which are engaged beneath thefolded corner members, thereby retaining the handle member in erectedposition.

At the folding juncture of the handle member with the wall I provide aslot I9 adapted to receive the tongue-like hinge member 20 of the cover22. This cover is formed of suitable gauge container stock and thetongue is formed by parallel slits 23 extending from the rear edge ofthe cover. A hinge 24 is provided by scoring or a series ofperforations, or other weakening at the base of the tongue. The tongueis inserted in the slot after the handle member has been erected andsecured in position. The portions 25 of the cover which projectrearwardly from its hinging point serve as finger pieces to facilitatethe opening of the cover as indicated in Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 the handle member is omitted and apocket flap HI, corresponding to the opposed pocket flap II, isprovided. In this embodiment both outer corners of the pocket members 9are notched. A cover hinge member receiving slot 26 is formed at thejuncture of the pocket flap H I with its wall. In this casethe cup isgrasped by the body instead of by a handle and the cover may bemanipulated in the same way as in the preferred embodiment.

My improved cup or container is Well adapted as a sputum cup, the pocketmembers efiectively retaining the contents when the cup is manipulated.The containers may be shipped and stored in the knockdown and quicklyset up for use. The parts are so arranged that they are effectivelyretained in position and the walls and the pocket members are inmutually bracing relation when in erected position.

It is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art toembody or adapt my invention as may be desired to meet particularrequirements. The embodiment illustrated, however, is a highly desirableone.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cup comprising a bottom and front and rear and side walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, and diagonally foldable corner members hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said front, rear and side walls, the sidewalls being provided with infolded side pocket flaps notched at theirouter front corners, the front wall hav- 1 ing an in-folded front pocketflap provided with laterally projecting tongues engageable with saidnotches of said side wall pocket flaps, the rear wall having an.out-turned handle member on its top edge slit to provide coacting handlemembers oppositely projecting tongues, the front corner members beingfolded on the inner side of the front wall and the tongues of said frontpocket flap being engaged with said notched edges of said side wallpocket flaps, the rear corner members being folded upon the outer sideof the rear wall and the tongues of said handle member being engagedthereunder, said infolded side pocket flaps extending rearwardly tosupport the rear wall against inward collapse.

2. A cup comprising a bottom and front and rear and side walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, diagonally foldable corner members hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said front, rear and side walls, the sidewalls being provided with in-folded side pocket flaps notched at theirouter front corners, the front wall having an in-folded front pocketflap provided with tongues engageable with said notches of said sidewall pocket flaps, the rear wall having an outturned handle member onits top edge slit to provide coacting handle members and oppositelyprojecting tongues, the front corner members being folded on the innerside of the front wall and the tongues of said front pocket flap beingengaged with said side wall pocket flaps, the rear corner members beingfolded upon the outer side of the rear wall and the tongues of saidhandle member engaged thereunder, said infolded side pocket flapsextending rearwardly to support the rear wall against inward collapse.

3. A cup comprising a bottom and front and rear and side walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, diagonally foldable corner members hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said front, rear and side walls, the sidewalls being provided with iii-folded side pocket flaps notched at theirouter front corners, the front wall having an in-folded front pocketflap provided with tongues engageable with said notches of said sidewall pocket flaps, the rear wall having an out-turned handle member onits top edge slit to provide coacting handle members and oppositelyprojecting tongues, there being a slot at the juncture of the handlemember with the rear wall, the

front corner members being folded on the inner side of the front walland the tongues of said front pocket flap being engaged with said sidewall pocket flaps, the rear corner members being folded upon the outerside of the rear wall and the tongues of said handle member engagedthereunder, and a cover having spaced slits extending from its rear edgeproviding a tonguelike hinge member, said hinge member being engaged insaid slot, the portion of said cover projecting rearwardly of said hingemember constituting a finger piece facilitating the opening of thecover, said infolded side pocket flaps extending rearwardly to supportthe rear wall against inward collapse.

l. A cup comprising a bottom and front and rear and side walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, diagonally foldable corner members hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said front, rear and side walls, the sidewalls being provided with in-folded side pocket flaps notched at theirouter front corners, the front wall having an in-folded front pocketflap provided with laterally projecting tongues engageable with saidnotches of said side wall pocket flaps, the rear wall having anout-turned handle member, there being a slot at the juncture of thehandle member with the rear wall, the front corner members being foldedon the inner side of the front wall and the front pocket flap foldedinwardly over said front cover members and lying between and retaininglyengaged with said side wall pocket flaps, the rear corner members beingfolded upon the outer side of the rear wall and the said handle memberbeing folded outwardly over the said corner member and retaininglyengaged therewith, and a cover having spaced slits extending from itsrear edge providing a tongue-like hinge member, said hinge member beingengaged in said slot, a portion of said cover projecting rearwardly ofsaid hinge member constituting a finger piece facilitating the openingof the cover, said infolded side pocket flaps extending rearwardly tosupport the rear wall against inward collapse.

5. A cup comprising a bottom and front and rear and side walls hingedlyconnected to the bottom, diagonally foldable corner members hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said front, rear and side walls, the sidewalls being provided with in-folded side pocket flaps notched at theirouter front corners, the front wall having an in-folded front pocketflaps provided with laterally projecting tongues engageable with saidnotches of said side wall pocket flaps, the rear wall having anout-turned handle member, the front corner members being folded on theinner side of the front wall and the front pocket flap folded inwardlyover said front cover members and lying between and retainingly engagedwith said side wall pocket flaps, the rear corner members being foldedupon the outer side of the rear wall and the said handle member beingfolded outwardly over the said corner member and retainly engagedtherewith, said infolded side pocket flaps extending rearwardly tosupport the rear wall against inward collapse.

6. A container comprising a bottom and walls hingedly connected to thebottom, the walls being 7' connected by diagonally foldable cornermembers hingedly connected to the walls, one wall having an out-turnedhandle member on its top edge, there being a slot at the juncture of thehandle member with its wall, the adjacent corner flaps being folded onthe outer side of the wall provided with the handle member the handlemember being retainingly engaged with the folded corner members, and acover provided with a tongue-like hinge member engaged in said slot, thecover having a finger-piece projecting rearwardly beyond its hingemember to facilitate opening of the cover.

7. A container comprisin a bottom and walls hingedly connected to thebottom, the walls being connected by diagonally foldable corner membershingedly connected to the Walls, one wall having an out-turned handlemember on its top edge, the adjacent corner flaps being folded on theouter side of the wall provided with the handle member and the handlemember being retainingly engaged with the folded corner members.

8. A container comprising a bottom, and walls hingedly connected to thebottom, the walls being connected by diagonally foldable corner membershingedly connected to the walls, one wall having an out-turned handlemember on its top edge curved on its side edges and having opposedC-shaped slits therein providing coacting looplike handle members andoppositely projecting tongues, the adjacent corner flaps being folded onthe outer side of the wall provided with the handle member and thetongues of the handle member being retainingly engaged with the foldedcorner members.

9. A container comprising a bottom and walls hingedly connected to thebottom, the walls being connected by diagonally foldable corner membershingedly connected to the walls, one wall having an out-turned handlemember on its top edge,

there being a slot at the juncture of the handle member with its wall,the adjacent corner flaps being folded on th outer side of the wallprovided with the handle member and the handle member being retaininglyengaged with the folded corner members, and a cover provided with atongue-like hinge member engaged in said slot.

10. A container comprising a bottom and walls hingedly connectedthereto, the walls being connected by diagonally foldable cornermembers, said walls being provided with infolded pocket flaps which aresupportingly engaged when they are disposed in an inwardly inclinedrelation, there being a slot at the juncture of one of the flaps withits wall, and a cover member having a tongue-like hinge member engagedin said slot, a portion of the cover member projecting rearwardl of itshinge member constituting a finger piece facilitating the opening of thecover.

11. A container comprising a bottom and walls hingedly connectedthereto, the walls being connected by diagonally foldable cornermembers, said walls being provided with in-folded pocket flaps which aresupportingly engaged when they are disposed in an inwardly inclinedrelation, there being a slot at the juncture of one of the flaps withits wall, and a cover member having a tongue-like hinge member engagedin said slot.

12. A container comprising a bottom and walls hingedly connectedthereto, the walls being connected by diagonally foldable cornermembers, said walls being provided with downwardly projecting pocketflaps, certain of said pocket flaps being infolded and supportinglyengaged with each other when they are disposed in an inwardly inclinedrelation, one of said first mentioned pocket flaps having a slot at itsjuncture with its wall, and a cover member having a tongue-like hingemember engaged in said slot, a portion of the cover member projectingoutwardly of its hinge member constituting a finger piece facilitatingthe opening of the cover.

KENNETH T. BUTTERY.

